FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

WE ARE GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER WEEK IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AS THE SESSION ENTERS THE HOME STRETCH.

MORE ON THAT IN A BIT.

BUT LEADING THE NEWS TONIGHT IS AN UPDATE ON A STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME THAT CAUGHT FIRE LATE LAST WEEK.

THE BENNIE ADKINS STATE VETERAN NURSING HOME EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAS BEEN LAUDED AS A WORLD CLASS FACILITY FOR STATE VETERANS.

BUT ON WEDNESDAY, A FIRE WAS REPORTED AS EYEWITNESSES REPORTED SEEING SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE ROOF.

THIS VIDEO IS FROM WTVY NEWS 4 IN DOTHAN.

ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, THE FIRE DID NOT DAMAGE ANY OF THE RESIDENTIAL WINGS OF THE FACILITY AND ALL 90 VETERANS WERE EVACUATED WITHIN 25 MINUTES.

VA COMMISSIONER JEFF NEWTON SAI TODAY THAT THE FIRE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED AND THAT NO INJURIES OCCURRED DURING THE INCIDENT.

HE SAID DAMAGE IS STILL BEING ASSESSED BUT THAT WORK TO REPAI AND REOPEN THE FACILITY WOULD B DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE COMMISSIONER ALSO MADE A POINT TO THANK FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY FO THE DIFFERENCE THEY MADE IN KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.

EACH YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, STATE LEADERS PUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON HOLD TO HONOR DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE STATE'S LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE THEIR HEROIC WORK.

THIS YEAR, SHELBY COUNTY DEPUTY BRAD BUSH WAS AWARDED THE LEGISLATIVE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS BRAVERY IN FIGHTING OFF AND DISARMING A GUNMAN DURING A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER INVOLVING GUNFIRE.

>> YOU KNOW, TO ME THIS IS A SPECIAL YEAR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ONE THING THIS BODY HAS DONE WORKING WITH THE SENATE TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA KNOW THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS YOUR BACK.

THE BILL THAT WE PASSED, WE PASSED OVER 7 BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GIVE YOUR FAMILIES SCHOLARSHIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP YOUR FAMILIES THAT NEED HELP IN THE TIME OF CRISIS.

SO I AM -- THANK YOU MR.

PRO TEM FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE BILLS.

THANK YOU FOR.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PAST AND PRESENT WITH US TODAY AND NOT TODAY.

TODAY WE HONOR DEPUTY BUSH.

I'M ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOU HAVE DONE BEING WITH US TODAY FOR THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS SPECIAL TIME WITH US.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO ARE THE BEDROCK OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE STRONGEST WAY POSSIBLE NOT ONLY IN THE HOUSE BUT OBVIOUSLY IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL CONVENE TUESDAY FOR THE 24TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

THEY HAVE SEVEN DAYS NOW REMAINING IN THIS 2025 SESSION, SO WE ARE ENTERING THE HOMESTRETCH.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT COME NOTABLE LEGISLATION STILL AWAITING PASSAGE THIS SESSION.

OF COURSE AT THE TOP OF THE LIS ARE THE STATE BUDGETS.

THESE AREN'T CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME WORK TO DO.

THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND HAS PASSED THE SENATE AND IS NOW READY TO MOVE IN THE HOUSE.

AND VICE VERSA THE GENERAL FUND HAS PASSED THE HOUSE AND IS AWAITING ACTION IN THE SENATE.

THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THEM UP THIS WEEK AND WE COULD EVEN SEE FLOO PASSAGE BY THURSDAY.

HOUSE BILL 477 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID FAULKNER, WHICH IS THE ALFA FARM BUREAU HEALTH PLAN BILL.

IT IS AWAITING A VOTE IN THE SENATE INSURANCE AND BANKING COMMITTE, WHICH IS SET TO MEET TUESDAY AT 10:00.

SENATE BILL 92 FROM STATE SENATOR DONNIE CHESTEEN THE PROPOSED BAN ON CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS.

IT IS THROUGH THE SENATE, THROUGH A HOUSE COMMITTEE AND READY FOR FINAL PASSAGE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, THERE ARE NO SENATE BILLS BEING TAKEN UP RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE SINCE TH TWO CHAMBERS HAD A LITTLE TIFF ABOUT LEGISLATION ADVANCING.

WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF THA SETTLES DOWN THIS WEEK.

HOUSE BILL 521 AND SENATE BILL 268.

THESE WOULD ALLOW SO-CALLED READY-TO-DRINK COCKTAIL BEVERAGES TO BE SOLD ALONGSIDE BEER AND WINE IN GROCERY AND CONVENIENCE STORES.

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET THEM IN LIQUOR STORES.

THE BILLS ARE THROUGH COMMITTEE AND READY FOR FLOOR VOTES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS.

SENATE BILL 186 FROM SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS WHICH WOULD REQUIRE CELL PHONE MANUFACTURES TO ACTIVATE PORN FILTERS ON CEL PHONES SOLD TO MINORS.

AND ITS COMPANION SENATE BILL 187, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE APP STORE PROVIDERS LIKE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO INCLUDE AGE VERIFICATIONS.

THOSE BILLS PASSED THE SENATE LAST WEEK AND COULD BE IN HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

FINALLY, HOUSE BILL 7 THE LAKEN RILEY ACT.

THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL IMMIGRATION BILLS AWAITING FINA PASSAGE.

IT IS THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SHOULD BE IN SENATE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

SOME SAD NEWS FROM OVER THE WEEKEND, FORMER LT.

GOVERNOR GEORGE MCMILLAN PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 81.

MCMILLAN WAS A FORCE IN ALABAMA POLITICS, WHERE HIS CAREER REALLY BEGAN AT AUBURN WHERE HE WAS ELECTED SGA PRESIDENT.

HE WENT ON TO SERVE IN THE ALABAMA HOUSE AND SENATE AND WA ELECTED LT.

GOVERNOR IN 1978.

HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 1982 AND NARROWLY LOST TO GEORGE WALLACE IN THE PRIMARY.

MCMILLAN WOULD GO ON TO BE AN UNOFFICIAL STATESMAN IN BIRMINGHAM, HELPING WITH TOURIS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WAS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH MCMILLAN SINCE THEIR DAYS AT AUBURN.

SHE SAID HE TREASURED BEING IN PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGHOUT HIS LIVE AND THAT HE WILL BE GREATL MISSED.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL TALK WITH POLITICAL COLUMNIST STEVE FLOWERS ABOUT GEORGE MCMILLAN'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" JOINING HE IS STEVE FLOWERS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW >> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> ALWAYS GET GOOD FEEDBACK FROM VIEWERS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR OBSERVANCES AND MEMORIES OF POLITICS, ESPECIALLY THE INTERVIEW THAT WE DID WITH JABO AND SENATOR WAGGONER.

I MAY WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT.

BUT I WANTED TO START WITH THE SAD NEWS THAT GEORGE MCMILLAN PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

HE IS A POLITICAL LEGEND IN THIS STATE.

I WONDERED WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE FROM HIS CAREER.

>> GEORGE WAS A SUPERSTAR, COMING OUT OF THE GATE, HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND WAS PRESIDENT OF THE SGA AND IRONICALLY HE AND KAY IVEY WERE CLASSMATES AT AUBURN AND POLITICAL FRIENDS AND ALLIES AND LEADERS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

JIMMY RANE WAS MIND THEM IN THE SAME GROUP.

BUT HE MUST HAVE DONE WELL IN SCHOOL ACADEMICALLY BECAUSE HE WENT TO VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOL.

HE WAS AT UVA LAW SCHOOL, CAME BACK TO BIRMINGHAM, IS THE HE WOULD IN EVEN THOUGH HE GRADUATED FROM AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS AN EXTENSION IN THE STATE WITH GREENVILLE AND GRADUATED AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND VIRGINIA.

CAME BACK AND MARRIED ANNE, WHO WAS FATHER WAS A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN AND THEN HE GOT IN POLITICS.

IT WAS AN OPEN HOUSE SEAT AND HE GOT ELECTED AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND HE TOOK ON A LOT OF THE SENATE, INCLUDING GEORGE BELL, THE BEST PARLIAMENTARIAN AND ROBUST MAN.

HE BEAT HIM IN A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR A AN OPEN SEAT, SENATE SEAT, AND HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS BEING A SUPERSTAR.

>> SO IT WAS A LONG SHOT.

>> IT WAS A LONG SHOT.

HE BECAME GEORGE LEWIS BELL AND THEN RAN FOR LT.

GOVERNOR AND IT WAS ALERTED AND STARTED RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AFTER THAT.

IT WAS ASSUMED WALLACE WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

WALLACE SERVED THREE TERMS AND THEN FOB JAMES CAME IN IN 78 AND MCMILLAN WAS HAD HIS GOVERNOR AND STARTED RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND D AND WALLACE COMING BACK DID NOT DETER GEORGE.

GEORGE WOULD HAVE BEATEN HIM IN THE PRIMARY.

THE SAME WAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOW.

YOU WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, THEN YOU WOP THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

HE CAME WITH AN EYELASH OF BEATING WALLACE AND THE ONLY REASON WALLACE WON, AND WE MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WALLACE GOT THE BLACK VOTE.

HE HAD GONE DOWN TO A CHURCH -- >> HE NIPPED AND BASICALLY APOLOGIZED FOR HIS SEGREGATIONIST -- >> THINK ELECTED HIM AND MCMILLAN ASSUMED THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT HE WOULD BE THE PROGRESSIVE PRO NO SOUTH GOVERN.

GEORGE WANT TO SAY RECOGNIZED AS BRINGING ALABAMA INTO THE NEW CENTURY AND BEING A NEW SOUTH GOVERNOR, THE SAMEIER WAS WHEN WALLACE BEAN BREWER IN 1970, THEY THOUGHT BREWER WOULD BEAT WALLACE AND SO ALABAMA HAD THE NEW SOUTH GOVERNOR AND MCMILLAN WAS LABELED THE SAME WAY LATER, 10 YEARS LATER IN 82.

>> BACK THEY BE YOU COULD ONLY SERVE ONE TERM CONSECUTIVELY SO NOT LIKE FOB HAD A CHANCE TO RUN BUT AT WHAT TIME WIDE OPEN.

>> MCMILLAN WAS READY TO TEE OFF AND GET IN THE RACE.

HE CAME BACK AFTER LOSING THE RACE TO WALLACE AND RAN IN 86 BUT THAT WAS THE YEAR MAXINE RAN AND THEY HAD A DEBACLE AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH DEMOCRATIC THING AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE DEMOCRATIC THING.

>> WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE SHOW ABSENT THAT ELECTION.

>> WE COULD.

BUT GEORGE WAS FLEW TOO.

HE STARTED AT CITY STAGES IN BIRMINGHAM.

>> HE WENT BACK TO BIRMINGHAM AND BECAME A STATE CENTRIST FOR THE CITY.

>> HE WAS.

HE WAS A SALESMAN FOR THE CITY.

THE CITY STAGES THING WAS A BIG DEAL.

IT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST MUSIC FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THEY WOULD HAVE EVERY MAJOR BAND, EARTH WIND AND FIRE -- EVERY MAJOR GROUP, YOU COULD WALK AROUND AND THERE WOULD BE 26 DIFFERENT BOARDS AND VENUES PLAYING.

IT WAS A HECK OF A THING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, HE WAS A FRIEND OF THIS SHOW AND ALSO TO THE TAIL NEWS, HE WAS ALWAYS REG CENTER AN OPINION ON THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND I ALWAYS TOOK THAT AS VARY KIND AND SUPPORT SINCE I GOT STARTED SO I WANT I WANT TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED GEORGE MCMILLAN AS A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE YOU GOT A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE UP AND COMERS, RISING UP, WANTING TO DO THE SAME THING AND IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER HE DID IT FIRST.

>> ONE THING I WILL SAY.

YOU SAYING THAT, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BUT I WILL SAY THIS IN ALL RESPECT TO GEORGE MCMILLAN IF YOU EVER MET AND KNEW GEORGE I NEVER SAW ANYBODY THAT DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT LIKE HIM.

HE HAD A VERY VIVACIOUS PERSONALITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A VERY NICE MAN.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING.

LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HERE WE ARE ENTERING THE HOME STRETCH.

WE HAVE EIGHT DAYS LEFT.

WHAT ARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS TO THE SESSION UP TO THIS POINT?

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE A GOOD BUDGET, YOU'VE HAD A GOOD SESSION.

AND I WILL SAY THIS IN DEFERENCE TO THE REPUBLICANS BEING IN THE MAJORITY SINCE 200010, SINCE THAT TIME BEGAN THEY HAVE BUDGETED VERY PRUDENTLY.

I REMEMBER YEARS WHEN WE WOULD GO INTO PRORATION EVERY YEAR AND THEY WERE BUDGETING MOTHER THEY HAD.

THEY PUT A LOT OF RAINY DAY FUND AWAY AND I HAVE TO TIP MY HAT TO ARTHUR ORR AND ALBRITTON IN THE SENATE AND RECOLLECTION REYNOLDS IN THE HOUSE -- THEY HAVE CONTINUED THIS REALLY GOOD BUDGETING AND I THINK THAT OTHER STATES ARE NOT HAVING THAT KIND OF SUCCESS WITH THEIR BUDGETS BECAUSE THEY SPENT THEIR COVID MONEY SO TO SPEAK.

I THINK WE REALIZED IT WAS ONE TIME MONEY, OR THE LEADERS DID IN THE BUDGET MONEY WHO DID THAT, SO I THINK -- I THINK THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT GETS -- YOU HAVE SEEN THIS OVER THE YEARS.

TENSIONS.

TENSIONS GET TOUGH.

THERE ARE CONTENTIOUS THINGS AND THEY HAVE TAKEN -- THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY HAS TAKEN A WHEN I WANT TO THE DEMOCRATS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH I THINK AND JUST -- >> CLOTURE.

>> JUST RUN OVER THEM A LITTLE BIT.

YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD DEMOCRATS THAT TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS.

SMITHER MAN DOES AND BOBBY SINGLETON.

THEY'RE LEADERS.

AND THEY DON'T ASK FOR MUCH.

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS DO THINGS FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> THEY KIND OF WANT THEIR BILLS AT LEAST ON THE AGENDA.

>> EXACTLY.

>> EVERYBODY IS ASKING THAT QUESTION, WHY NOT JUST TO KIND OF PLACATE OR JUST PLAY AND HAVE A PROTECTIVE DAY PUT SOME BILLS ON BUT I GUESS THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN BILLS THE REPUBLICANS WOULD WANT FOR DEMOCRAT BILLS TO BE ON THE CALENDAR.

>> IT'S FALLEN OFF TRACK THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE SESSION AND THEY WILL STILL PASS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO PASS AND THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE RED MEAT ISSUES TOO MUCH TO THE WALL.

AND ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS, ONE OF THE FRESHMEN MADE A GOOD POINT BY SAYING, A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO END UP IN COURT AND COST THE STATE OF MONEY LEGALLY TO DEFEND THINGS THAT ARE NOT CONSTITUTION.

>> LIKE TEN COMMANDMENTS, PRAYER IN SCHOOL.

>> THINGS YOU DO TO PLACATE THE DISTURBS.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAN CUT BACK ON SOME OF THAT.

IT REALLY DOESN'T AMOUNT TO A HILL OF BEANS.

IT'S KNOT GOING TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL.

BUT THAT'S JUST POLITICS.

>> I DO AGREE WITH YOU ON THE BUDGETING AND I LIKE HAVING OUR BUDGETERS ON BECAUSE THEY CAN EXPLAIN IT.

AND IT'S NOT SEXY.

THAT'S THE POINT.

IT SHOULD BE BORING.

IF YOU'RE BUDGETING WELL, IT SHOULD BE BORING.

AND BEAT KNOW WE COULD HAVE ROUGH BUDGET YEARS AHEAD.

AND IF THE RAINY DAY ACCOUNTS WEREN'T THERE -- I REMEMBER THE LAST PAINFUL ROUND OF PRORATION WAS IN THAT 2012, 2013 RANGE AND IT AFFECTED BOTH BUDGETS AND IT WAS PAINFUL.

NOT THAT MANY ARE STILL AROUND AND THOSE THAT ARE KNOW THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT PAIN AGAIN.

>> ONE THING THAT HAPPENED AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION OR THE COURTS BUT WE LOOKED AT A BLEAK TIME WITH THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE OF EVERYONE BUYING EVERYTHING ONLINE AND US LOSING THAT TAX.

AND THEM BEING ABLE TO GET THAT I TALKED TO STEVE CLOUSE WHO CHAIRED THE GENERAL FUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HE SAID THAT HAS BEEN THE SALVATION AND IT'S HELPED THE GENERAL FUND TO GET THAT MONEY OFF AT SALES TAX THAT THE STORES ARE NOT GETTING BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS BUYING EVERYTHING ON AMAZON NOW.

>> AND LOCALLY TOO.

IT HELPS LOCAL ATOMICS AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, THE SUCCESS OF THE LOCAL FARM CIVILITIES IN THEIR BILL -- I DIDN'T THINK THEY HAD A CHANCE BEFORE THE SESSION.

>> SO FAR THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST VICTORY OF THE SESSION.

LAST YEAR IT GOT DEFEATED BADLY THE PROPONENTS WERE ABLE TO CHARACTERIZE IT AS A TAX AND THAT'S IT, A TAX ON DRUGS.

THEY WERE CLEVER ABOUT WITH IT A DIFFERENT WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT.

THEY HAD SUCH A UNITED FRONT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PHARMACISTS UP HERE IN THE HALLS AND IT WASN'T JUST THAT ONE PHARMACISTS DAY.

THEY HAD A PRESENCE UP HERE UNANIMOUS IN BOTH HOUSES.

>> THAT WAS A HUGE WIN.

>> THAT WAS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE TO ME OF THE SESSION SO FAR.

IT WAS ALMOST A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

>> BOTH HOUSES.

WELL, GAMBLING DIED.

I GUESS THAT WAS SOMEWHAT EXPECTED BUT WHAT'S YOUR TAKE -- DID YOU EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF -- I MEAN, ALBRITTON CLEARLY WANTED TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE BILL BUT I GUESS THEY JUST RAN OUT OF TIME.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

I THINK THE SALE OF THE BIRMINGHAM RACE COURSE TO THE INDIAN CASINOS IS GOING TO MAKE THAT ULTIMATE APPLY PASS.

>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STAKE -- >> THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY WANT THEY WANT THE BIRMINGHAM PLACE.

THAT LOCATION IS IDEAL AND EVERYTHING FOR THEM.

IT WILL DRAW ATLANTA PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY S AND I THINK ULTIMATELY YOU WILL SEE IT PASS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT CAME SO LATE IN THE SESSION, AND SO MANY THINGS ARE STILL ON THE PLATE AND JUDGES LEARNING THE ROPES AND HE'S DRINKING OUT OF A WATER HYDRANT AND THEY JUST THREW IT AT HIM AND IT COMES OUT AND EVERYBODY WANTS A PIECE OF THE PIE, I WANT THIS FOR MEDICAID, I WANT THIS FOR MY DISTRICT, THIS AND ROADS AND -- YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A GOVERN OR A LEADER IN THE HOUSE, LIKE LEDBETTER DID LAST YEAR, TAKE CONTROL AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.

WE START WITH THE SESSION AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR EYES DO THED AND T'S CROSSED AND WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS THING.

YOU CAN'T THROW IT 2/3 OF THE SESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THING.

>> NEXT YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

EVERYBODY SAYS GAMBLING IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO PASS IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

IS THAT TRUE OR JUST AN OLD ADAGE.

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE IN OLD WAYS.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BECOME MORE LIKE CONGRESS IN THAT, IF YOU GET THERE YOU'RE ALMOST RE-ELECTED.

YOU WILL SEE THOSE RACES DECIDED IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

SEE, THEY QUALIFY IN JANUARY.

AND OUT OF 140 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE UNLESS PEOPLE ARE RETIRING, I WOULD WAGER, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAGERING, I WOULD WAGER OUT OF 140 LEGISLATORS, ESPECIALLY THE MORAL POWERFUL ONES I BET YOU 80 PERCENT WILL UNUNOPPOSED.

>> THEN THE QUALIFYING ENDS.

>> IN JANUARY.

RIGHT.

>> SO THERE'S LESS POLITICAL RISK THAN THERE USED TO BE.

FEET BEING HELD TO THE FIRE BY A CONSTITUENCY THAT IS PROBABLY MORE ANTI GAMBLING THAN JUST THE GENERAL POPULATION.

>> THAT AND I THINK SO THE RACE WILL BE OVER IN JANUARY.

I THINK THAT THEY WILL KNOW THEY HAVE OPPONENTS.

SO IS IRONICALLY THE LEADERSHIP I THINK KNEW THIS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE OPPONENTS AND IT WILL BE OVER NEXT YEAR.

SO IRONICALLY THIS WAS THE HABEAS CORPUS YEAR TEST WOULD I THINK.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT.

>> THIS WAS THE ELECTION YEAR TEST.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE THAT WAS GOING TO BE SCRUTINIZED, THEY WOULD BE HOME.

WHEN THEY COME BACK NEXT YEAR, THEY'RE HOME.

>> MAYBE WE NEED TO CHANGE THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT WE COULD SEE GAMBLING COME BACK NEXT YEAR.

WHILE WE'RE GETTING INTO THE ELECTION I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

THE CAMPAIGN MIGHT AS WELL BE HERE; RIGHT?

WE WILL START RAISINGS MONEY ABOUT A MONTH FROM NOW.

THE BIG QUESTION IS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I THINK AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR EVERYONE THOUGHT IT MAY BE WILL AINSWORTH, MARSHAL, NOW EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TUBERVILLE.

YOU STAY ATTUNED TO THIS KIND OF STUFF S THIS TUBERVILLE FOR GOVERN TALK REAL.

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK IT STARTED CIRCUS MONTHS AGO AND THAT'S THE WHOLE BIG QUESTION AND THE WHOLE THING.

TUBERVILLE IS THE WILDCARD AND THE BIG GORILLA IN THE PROGRAM.

>> HIS APPROVAL RATINGS AMONGST PRODUCTION NUMBERS ARE HIGH.

>> HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR AND TRUMP WERE TO ENDORSE HIM, I THINK HE WINS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

I THINK HE KNOWS THAT.

AND I THINK HE'S SITTING BACK.

I HEAR DIFFERENT THINGS EVERY DAY.

I HEAR MORE AND MORE THAT HE IS THOUGH AND I THINK THAT'S CAUSING A COME NOTE EFFECT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?

>> AND AINSWORTH HAS BEEN SITTING READY TO RUN FOR PROBABLY THIS ENTIRE TERMINATE.

AND SO DOES HE CONTINUE TO RUN IF -- BECAUSE THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, A REAL UPHILL BATTLE ALTHOUGH HE SEEMS PREPARED IN HIS OWN; RIGHT.

>> I THINK AINSWORTH IS IN GOOD SHAPE IF TUBERVILLE DOES NOT RUN.

AINSWORTH HAS DONE HIS HOMEWORK AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF POLITICOS FOR HIM.

I REALLY BELIEVE, AS TUBERVILLE GETS THIS THAT RACE -- FIRST OF ALL I'M SURPRISED IT HAS NOT STARTED ALREADY.

I THOUGHT APRIL15 YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING IN THE RACES.

MAY 26 IS THE DAILY HOOK AND YOU WILL GET A DECISION FROM TUBERVILLE AND THE OTHER QUESTION MARKS AT THAT TIME ON MAY 26.

THAT'S WHEN THE MONEY CAN START BEING RAISED.

I BELIEVE, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, AND I WROTE THIS THIS LAST WEEK, I MEAN -- IN MOST STATES BEING A U.S.

SENATOR IS A LOT BIGGER AND BETTER JOB THAN BEING A GOVERNMENT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT IN MOST STATES, 35 OR 40 OF THEM, THE GOVERNOR IS A STEPPINGSTONE TO THE U.S. SENATE.

>> THINKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW BRYAN CAP IN GEORGIA AND KRISTEN CHEER IN CONNECTICUT.

AND U.S.

SENATOR IS THE BEST JOB.

>> AND TUBERVILLE, IF HE'S 71 YEARS OLD, YOU'RE IN THE MAJORITY, YOU'RE TRUMP'S BEST FRIEND IN THE SENATE, I WOULD STAY IN THE SENATE.

OF COURSE I GREW UP AROUND POLITICS AND I -- IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME, IF I'M GETTING AROUND TO SAYING AT AN WORTH IF YOU ASK ME ADD 45 YEARS OLD COULD I BE A SENATE OR GOVERNOR, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, I'M GOING TO THE SENATE.

YOU'RE GOVERNOR FOUR YEARS.

WHICH AND YOU MADE BE DIS COURAGED BUT YOU CAN GO TO THE SENATE FOR 35 YEARS AND BE A POWER.

SO I CAN'T UNDERSTAND TUBERVILLE'S INTEREST IN BECOMING GOVERNOR.

I THINK HE IS LEANING THAT WAY.

AND I THINK AN WORDS' CLOSEST ALLIES WOULD SAY WILL IF I WAS 45 YEARS OLD AND I COULD GO TO THE U.S. SENATE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RUN FOR.

IF TUBERVILLE WON THE RACE WE WATCHING IS THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

>> A LOT OF PERPLEXING DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ABOUT WHO IS RUNNING FOR WHAT BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT WILL BE A LONG POLITICAL YEAR SO I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK AND SHARE SOME OF YOUR OBSERVATIONS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ♪ ♪ >> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY.